People mostly relax by watching TV, listening to music, and streaming TV shows or other videos online, forgetting cybersecurity risks.
Cybersecurity experts are alarmed because most people use their devices as relaxation tools. The latest survey performed by Cint and commissioned by cybersecurity company NordVPN showed that 96% of people turn to technology for relaxation during the day.
While watching Netflix or scrolling Instagram can help alleviate stress, it may also eliminate users’ privacy awareness.
Sixty percent of respondents said they turn to their gadgets a few times a day to relax, and 21% said they do so at least once a day.
TVs and Smartphones Are The Two Top Gadgets that People Use to Relax
In most countries, TV remains the #1 device for relaxation and easy entertainment (70%).
“In the past, very few cybersecurity issues were associated with the use of television. However, now many people use smart TVs. In 2019, the FBI released a warning stating that smart TVs can make users vulnerable to surveillance and attacks by bad actors. Since then, user security technology has become more advanced, but internet-connected devices remain vulnerable,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN.
Warmenhoven is also worried because smartphones are the second most used item for relaxation (69% globally).
“When people are relaxed, they often forget about possible cybersecurity risks. Smartphones are especially at risk because today, no other gadget knows more about its user. That makes smartphones a very appealing target for hackers,” says Warmenhoven.
How do People Relax Using Their Gadgets?
Two-thirds of respondents choose to unwind by watching TV, and a similar number of people choose to do so by listening to music. More than half of respondents also relax by streaming TV shows or movies or watching videos (e.g., on YouTube or TikTok).
The fourth most popular way of relaxing was scrolling through social media, and 45.7% of respondents admitted to doing so. More than a third also said they feel more relaxed after talking to their loved ones online, gaming, or reading or listening to the news.
How to Safely Relax Using Technology
Cybersecurity expert Adrianus Warmenhoven shares some tips that will help eliminate the stress of being hacked for those who use technology to unwind:
- Keep apps and the phone’s operating system (OS) up to date. Don’t skip software updates.
- Use cybersecurity tools. Every device you use should have at least an antivirus, a VPN, and a password manager installed, if that is possible. That will drastically lower the risk of being hacked.
- Do your research. Never download unknown apps — read up on them and make sure they have been developed by a legitimate company.
- Avoid unofficial app stores. They’re more likely to contain malware-ridden apps.
- Avoid using unknown Wi-Fi. And always use a VPN when you do.
- Be vigilant. Don’t click on suspicious links, don’t give out your number to strangers, and be wary of unknown numbers.
